[MPLexus301]

In my previous experience, fat tails grow a bit slower than leopard geckos which we all know grow like weeds. I would say it was about a year and a half before mine really got nice and fat and stopped growing, but I cannot be exactly sure. I had two of them several years ago but ended up giving them to a friend when we moved and then lost touch.

I am back into the hobby (two amels) and have been looking around at other individuals to add to the collection. It seems very hard to come across a good Fat Tail breeder IMO...nothing like leopard geckos. I was referred to JMG and TUG by a friend and when I checked out their websites I was shocked at how small TUG's AFTs are. Their yearling geckos are all 30 grams or less. I have seen others on here talk about geckos that are 14 or 15 grams after just a few months so 30g at one year just seems quite petite to me.

I know the average adult weights are roughly 40-50grams, so I wanted to ask how long it takes for your geckos to reach that weight. My two are still around 7-8g so I have a ways to go, but I just feel like 30g or less (most are 26-28g) is really a small gecko.

Thank you!

[acpart]

Here are a few data points based on my very small collection:

1. AFT male bought from a pet store in 3/08 where he had reportedly been for at least 8 months. WHen I got him he was about 38 grams, I think, and now he's around 70

2. AFT female received 5/08 from a reptile rescue where she'd been placed by a breeder downsizing. She'd been there for at least 6 months and was about 5 years old when I got her. I don't remember her weight. She has had an enlarged liver since last winter and I've been hand feeding her. She maintains her weight at about 60 grams. She laid eggs this season and produced 4 live, healthy hatchlings

3. AFT female bought from pet store 2/08 where she'd been for at least 6 months. When I got her she weighed 37 grams. She got up to 48 grams by July at which time I put her in with the other 2 fatties. She stopped eating much for a few months after the move and lost a few grams but has figured it out again and is up over 50 grams now

4. AFT hatchlings: 4 from 3 clutches born between 7/11 and 8/24. They were all about 1 gram at hatching. The 3 month olds are about 6-7 grams and the nearly 2 month old is 4 grams but they are eating well. Although I don't sell leo hatchlings till they reach 15 grams, I did sell a fattie at 6 grams last week who looked good sized and was eating very well (she continues to do so in her new home).

I am kind of amazed that fatties are so much smaller for so much longer but do get within the range of adult leos after awhile. Of course, my leo males are 89-110 grams each . . .

ALiza